Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-07-23

breeds as ri, mouth Rocks. Wyaniottcs
and Javas. In the selection Of breed
ing stock color is ii matter of inditfer-
ence provided the other requisites are
obtained, although white or light-col-
ored breeds generally dress to better
advantage if killed when in Il pin
fcathery state. But constitution and
,igor axe absolutely essential, because
the chicks are intended foi rapid
growth. and the largest possible per-
centage are 10 be raised. Fresh blood
Is Indispensable; no apprw2ch towards
i~nbreeding should be permitted. The
crossing OF distinct breeds is far from
dlsadvantageOuS, rs cross-brcd fowls
i. e.. first crosses-are usually hardy
and vigorous.
Among crosses which may be made
VT can mention Il few which will prove
very useful: The o Of White Javas
and White Plymouth Rocks. of Stand
ard Plymouth Rocks and Wyan.
dottes, of White Leghorns and Ply
mouth Rocks, as well, where a few
feathers on the shanks are not obj,c-
t%lonable; Of the Brahmas and Legh : 5
and of other Asialics, and Games. Such
crcss-bred fowls reach a marketable
size quickly, are usually plump and
we'll made, and make very desirable
dressed poultry. A cross of IA yellow
Skinned fowl upon the Dorking is also
desirable. The chief objection to the
Dorking is its white skin and legs, but
when crossed with a good yellow
skinned fowl the character of the Skin
will be in many cases modified.
To accomplish his purpose the mar
ket poultryman will do well to procure
some good healthy, thoroughbred stock,
Il little of in color and markings, the
hens OF n breed and the cockerCl of
another. These can be procured ut a
slight advance upon their value for
dressed poultry, and for the market
poultryman are of equal value with the
finest specimens. They are not pro-
durable always, because some breeders
h state 10 sell culls for fear that they
W toe exhibited 10 ~neighbors and
lriruds - fair specimens of the breed
err ork. Yet if the breeder is con-
vince 'i-,t they viii only be used Tor
Legi inl.o Purposes, he will be only too
glad 10 sell.
With stock selected in this manner
here is every reason to expect excel
LEM results, in the production of fine,
growing, healthy birds, that will find 4
ready market at good prices.-The
Poultry World.
STACK COVERS.
Few of our western farmers have
barn room for their entire hay crop,
and most of them have no shelter at
al. Stacking out of doors is the rule.
There is hardly a reader but knows
from costly experience something of
the great loss sustained by having part
ly finished grain and hay stacks rained
upon; not only is the crop often great
ly damaged and sometimes ruined, but
the loss OF time in tearing down n
stack that has been caught III a storm,
spreading out the bay or grain, and the
rebuilding add greatly to the cost of
the crop. How a farmer who makes
much hay or raises much grain. which
must be stacked out of doors, can get
along without stack covers. we cannot
conceive. Two 10x10 feet canvas
stack covers would be articles which
few farmers in this state, or any other,
would not find most useful, and
which would pay their cost several
times in n season. When a stack is
half done. at night IA cover is spread
over il, which can be done in "A few
minutes. and the product of acres is
sale from a prolonged rain. These
canvases can be put to many uses
during the year. Whenever the ago
j., loaded with grain for market or
mill. and Is left standing over night
for an early start in the morning, it is
secure from damage if the cover is
thrown Over it. When threshing in
the field and a lot Of grain is in sack
and must be left over night, "A stack
cover will protect it. One spread
under the machine would save much
grain which ortherwise would be lost.
One thrown over a reaper or threshing
machine, when they must be left stand
ing Out-of dOOrs for some time, will
prevent these costly machine rusting
and wearing out soonnr than they
should. In a hundred ways would
such Il canvas be most useful, and it
| would seem that their possession bv
farmers was AS necessary as any other
farm article.
PROTECTING ANIMALS FROM FLIES.
AT this season of the e. the annoy
ance caused to animals by flies ard
mosquitoes often amounts to positive
agony, and at all times, in what is
called good corn weather, it is sufficient
TO prevent the stock eating enough to
keep them in good condition. The
animals will stand in the water or pass
the greater part of thy day in the
shade, rather than expose themselves
70 the sunshine. going out to eat only
when driven by hunger. They quickly
lose flesh, the flow Of milk shrlnks,
and n loss is incurred that cannot be
easily made good again. At all times
a good feed Of grain is beneficial 10
stock. but it i especially SO when HES
are very ANNOYING. since II will do